Rhinitis

What is rhinitis?

Rhinitis is a reaction that occurs in the eyes, nose, and throat when airborne irritants (allergens) trigger the release of histamine. Histamine causes inflammation and fluid production in the fragile linings of nasal passages, sinuses, and eyelids.

What are the different types of rhinitis?

The two categories of rhinitis are allergic and nonallergic.

Allergic rhinitis

There are two types of allergic rhinitis:

Seasonal. This type occurs particularly during pollen seasons.

Perennial. This type occurs throughout the year.

The most common causes of allergic rhinitis are:

Pollen (tree, grass, weed)

Dust mites

Mold

Cockroach droppings

Animal dander

Reactions from allergic rhinitis include:

Sneezing

Congestion

Runny nose

Itchy nose, throat, eyes, and ears

Nosebleeds

Clear drainage from the nose

People with perennial allergic rhinitis may also have the following:

Recurrent ear infections

Snoring

Breathing through the mouth

Fatigue

Preventive measures for avoiding allergic rhinitis include:

Environmental controls, such as air conditioning, during pollen season

Avoiding areas where there is heavy dust, mites, molds

Avoiding pets

Nonallergic rhinitis

Types of nonallergic rhinitis are:

Vasomotor rhinitis (irritant rhinitis)

Eosinophilic

Rhinitis medicamentosa

Neutrophilic rhinosinusitis

Structural rhinitis

Nasal polyps

Primary vasomotor instability

Causes of nonallergic rhinitis include:

Fumes and odors

Temperature

Hormonal changes

Certain medications and overuse of topical nose sprays

Atmospheric changes

Smoke

Certain foods or spices

Other irritants

Reactions from nonallergic rhinitis include:

Sneezing

Congestion

Runny nose

Itchy nose, throat, eyes, and ears

The preventive measure for avoiding nonallergic rhinitis is avoiding the primary cause.

Treatments for allergic or nonallergic rhinitis, as determined by your health care provider and based on your condition, may include:

Oral medications

Inhaled medications

Immunotherapy

Allergy injections

Surgery (for some conditions)

How is allergic rhinitis diagnosed?

Typically, the diagnosis is made by your health care provider based on a thorough history and physical examination. In addition to the above signs, the health care provider may find, on physical examination, dark circles under the eyes, creases under the eyes, swollen tissue inside the nose, and mouth breathing.

Treatment for allergic rhinitis

Avoidance of the allergens that are causing the problem is the best treatment. Specific treatment will be determined by your health care provider based on:

Your overall health and medical history

Extent of the reaction

Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies

Expectations for the course of the reaction

Your opinion or preference

Treatment may include:

Antihistamines. Antihistamines help to decrease the release of histamine, possibly decreasing the symptoms of itching, sneezing, or runny nose. Some examples of antihistamines are diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or hydroxyzine (Atarax). These medications may cause drowsiness.

Nonsedating antihistamines. Nonsedating antihistamines work like antihistamines but without the side effect of causing drowsiness. Nonsedating antihistamines may include cetirizine (Zyrtec) or loratadine (Claritin). Antihistamines are also available as a nasal spray.

Steroid nasal sprays. Steroid nasal sprays also help to decrease the swelling in the nose. Steroid nasal sprays work best when used before the symptoms start, but can also be used during a flare-up.

Topical nasal decongestants

Decongestants help to reduce nasal congestion.

Do not use nasal spray decongestants for more than three days.

Over-the-counter saline nasal sprays can counteract the symptoms of dry nasal pasages and thick mucus. Unlike a decongestant nasal spray, it can be used as often as needed.

Topical nasal decongestants are not recommended for children. In some cases, they cause symptoms to worsen for children.

Decongestants. Decongestants help by making the blood vessels in the nose smaller, thus decreasing congestion. Decongestants can be purchased either over-the-counter or by prescription.

Anti-leukotrienes. These are a relatively new type of medication being used to control the symptoms of asthma. These medications help to decrease the narrowing of the lungs and to decrease the chance of fluid in the lungs. These are usually given by mouth.

If you do not respond to avoidance or to the above medications, your health care provider may refer you to an allergist for testing. The allergist then may recommend immunotherapy based on the findings. Immunotherapy usually involves a three- to five-year course of repeated injections of specific allergens to decrease the reaction to these allergens when you come into contact with them. Consult your health care provider for more information.

The link between allergic rhinitis and asthma

Controlling asthma may mean controlling allergic rhinitis in some patients, according to allergy and asthma experts. Allergic rhinitis is a common problem that may be associated with asthma.

Guidelines from the World Health Organization recognize the link between allergic rhinitis and asthma. Although the link is not fully understood, one theory asserts that rhinitis makes it difficult to breathe through the nose, which hampers the normal function of the nose. Breathing through the mouth does not warm the air, or filter or humidify it before it enters the lungs, which can make asthma worse.